Deputy adopts abused dog he rescued

UPDATE: According to the St. Johns' County Sheriff's Office,one of the initial responding deputies, Dan Sorrells, has officially adopted "Amber," the St. Bernard mix dog that was allegedly stabbed by Randal Hart. Amber is almost ready to be released from the veterinarian clinic.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. -- A 28-year-old man has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty in St. Johns County.

Deputies claim Randal Hart cut his dog's throat and stabbed the dog several times Sunday evening.

A witness told deputies and St. Johns County Animal Control the suspect allegedly stabbed the dog multiple times. The witness also told police the suspect then dragged the howling dog to a nearby plot of land.

Deputies found the St. Bernard mix still alive but in "obvious distress." The dog was taken to Atlantic Veterinarian Hospital for emergency surgery.

Hart told the deputy that he reportedly stabbed the dog because the dog bit a kitten and needed to be "put down."

The deputy located the kitten and did not find any injury. The kitten was playing with another dog on the property.